1 Corinthians 2

— comparing spiritual things with spiritual.] According to the interpretation of the Fathers, comparing the things which were inspired by the Spirit in the Old Testament, with what is now revealed to us by the same Spirit, and confirming our doctrines from them. Dr. Whitby.

unto spiritual, &c.] St Paul here meets an objection, which appears to have been alleged against him, that he did not teach the Corinthians the more sublime parts of Christianity, which were since taught them by others. To this be answers, that their small advance in Christianity had not fitted them to receive those sublimer doctrines. Dr. Wells. —spiritual, —carnal.] The “spiritual” man here appears to signify the man endmed with the fruits of the good Spirit, and who “walketh in the Spirit, not fulfiling the lust of the flesh,” Rom. viii. 1, 4; Gal. v. 16. The “carnal” imports men, through the too great prevalence of their carnal appetites lusting against the Spirit, still subject to such things, as shewed in them some strong remains of a carnal mind. What the Apostle says in commendation of the “faith, utterance, and knowledge” of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. i. 5; 2 Cor. viii. 7, must be restrained to some few of them, who enjoyed these gifts for the instruction of the rest, so that the generality of them might notwithstanding be “babes in Christ;” or, this “faith, utterance, and knowledge” must be restrained to the gifts of miracles, of tongues, and the interpretation of them, bestowed for the confirmation of the Gospel and for the good of others on them who were not “spiritual” in the best sense, but of very small proficiency in the saving fruits of the good Spirit. Hence we find them “puffed up” on account of these gifts, envying others who had them in a higher measure, and abusing them to vain ostentation and confusion in the church, instead of using them to edification, which things sufficiently evidence that they were but “babes in Christ.” Dr. Whitby. —babes in Christ.] First beginners, who have made but little or no progress in Christ." Dr. Wells. Men are ordinarily made capable of Divine knowledge and graces by degrees: those, not first prepared by the lower, cannot attain the higher. See John xvi. 12. Bp. Fell.

1 Corinthians 2:2

2. — not to know any thing among you, &c.] That is, not to discover any other knowledge to you: to act as one who knew nothing of the eloquence and wisdom of the Greeks, but only to give you the knowledge of a crucified Saviour, which was to them “foolishness,” chap. i. 23. Dr. Whitby. “To know Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,” was to know, not simply to believe, but to know in such a manner as to be able to teach others, that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah announced by the Prophets from the beginning of the world; and to understand that the sufferings of the Messiah were the means appointed by God for man’s deliverance from sin and damnation. This knowledge, therefore, of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, to which St. Paul laid claim, contained an accurate knowledge of the ancient prophecies; a clear apprehension of their necessary reference to the Messiah; a discernment of their exact completion in the person of Jesus; and an insight into that great mystery of godliness, the expiation of the actual sins of men, and the cleansing of man’s sinful nature, by the shedding of the blood of Christ. And who is sufficient for these things? That no study can attain this knowledge of Christ in the degree in which the Apostles possessed it, he who confesses not, hath studied Christ to little purpose: but he who imagines that Christ may thus be known by men uninformed both by inspiration and education, or imagines that where inspiration is wanting education may contribute nothing at all in aid of the deficiency; that is, to make my meaning very plain, he who imagines that, of uninspired men, the learned and the unlearned are equally qualified to be teachers of the word of God; he who builds this extravagant opinion upon the terms in which the Apostle speaks of the knowledge of Christ, as the only knowledge to which he himself made pretensions; only proves that more learning is necessary than he is aware of, to the right apprehension of this single text. Bp. Horsley.

3. —with milk, and not with meat.] With the “milk” of the first principles of religion, not with the strong “meat” of harder and higher doctrines. Bp. Hall.

1 Corinthians 2:3

3. — in weakness.] Of the body and of speech, “his bodily presence being weak” and mean, “and his speech contemptible,” 2 Cor. x. 10. This infirmity of flesh rendering him despicable in the eyes of others. Dr. Whitby. — and in fear, and in much trembling.] In much swe of that great and weighty charge which I sustained; in much fear of those many and spiteful machinations of mine enemies against me. Bp. Hall. St. Paul’s “fear” at Corinth is intimated in Acts xviii. 9. Bp. Pearce.

4. —envying, and strife, and decisions.] Which are Strifes and divisions reproved. Christ the only foundation. Anno DOMINI 59. Or, factions. ing to men? and strife, and || divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk † as men?

1 Corinthians 2:4

4. — but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:] It appears best to understand these expressions, as Ori-

1 Corinthians 2:5

5. — ministers by whom ye believed, &c.] Not the authors of our faith, but only instruments of conveying to us the doctrine of Christ, according to the different commissions given them by the Holy Ghost. Dr. Hammond.

1 Corinthians 2:6

6. — we speak wisdom] Or, what is justly accounted the greatest wisdom, “among them that are perfect,” that is, who thoroughly understand the nature of the Christian religion. Dr. Wells. Who are fully instructed in the principles of the Christian faith. That this is the sense of the word “perfect” here, appears from the opposition of those that are perfect to “babes in Christ,” as in Heb. v. 12, 13; vi. 1. Compare Matt. xix. 21; Phil. iii. 15. See also 1 Cor. xiii. 10; Col. i. 28; Heb. v. 14. Dr. Whitby. — not the wisdom of this world.] That is, neither the arts and sciences of the Greeks, nor the rabbinical conceits of the Jews. Dr. Wells. — nor of the princes of this world.] Not such learning as is approved and encouraged by either the Gentile or the Jewish princes or great men. Dr. Wells. — that come to nought:] The Apostle means, that such wisdom avails them nothing as to their spiritual and eternal welfare. Dr. Wells.

1 Corinthians 2:7

7. — the wisdom of God in a mystery.] That wise dispension of God in giving up His Son, which was hidden under the Jewish types, and only darkly spoken of by the Prophets. Dr. Hammond. — the hidden wisdom.] “Hidden” before, not after, the revelation of it: for this mystery, saith the Apostle, “God hath revealed unto us by his Spirit,” ver. 10. It is the mystery, which hath been “hid from ages and generations, but now is made manifest to His saints,” Rom. xvi. 25, 26; Eph. i. 9; iii. 3, 4, 9, 10; vi. 19; Col. i. 26, 27; ii. 2; iv. 3, 4. Dr. Whitby. — which God ordained before the world] Determined by God from the beginning to be now revealed to us. Dr. Hammond. “Before the world,” and so, long before the Jewish constitution. Dr. Wells. — unto our glory:] That is, to be the means of our happiness and glory. Dr. Whitby, Bp. Hall.

8. — neither is he that planteth any thing.] So that you should glory in one more than in the other, or desire to be distinguished by their names. Drs. Wells and Whitby.

1 Corinthians 2:8

8. — none of the princes of this world] Jewish or Gentile. Dr. Wells. Namely, Herod, Pontius Pilate, the high priests, and the other governours of Judea. Bp. Hall. — the Lord of glory.] Him, who by the voice from heaven and His miracles, as well as by their own prophecies, appeared to be God Himself come down from heaven. Dr. Hammond. Not a mere man, not an angel, not an archangel, but the only begotten Son of God, of the same essence and glory with the Father. The same Apostle, or rather the Spirit of God Himself, speaking in him, makes use of language to the same effect, Acts xx. 28, where he speaks of “the church of God, which He hath purchased with his own blood.” Bp. Beveridge. As in this verse, compared with Ps. xxiv. 10, and Isai. vi. 3, is contained a clear proof of the true God’s wise, but secret, counsel for bringing men to glory. Anno DOMINI 69. o Iasi. 64. 4.

9. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:] That is, are but as one instrument or agent of the same God; their pains are directed all to one end. Bp. Hall. The Apostle here advances a second argument for union. As if he had said, The doctrine of both of us is but one; both of us have had the same design of establishing men in the doctrine of Christ: though, according to the labour, that either of us has taken in the work, we may have different degrees of reward. And consequently though one labourer may deserve more honour than another, yet ought not this to be an occasion of division or schism among you, because, our design and doctrine being the same, your faith ought to be the same also. Dr. Hammond.

1 Corinthians 2:9

9. But as it is written, &c.] These words, quoted from Iasi. Ixiv. 4, do not immediately respect the blessings of another world, but are spoken by the Prophet of the Gospel state, and the blessings then to be enjoyed by them that love God, Rom. viii. 28. Dr. Whitby.

10. For we are labourers together with God:] Rather, ‘fellow-labourers of God!’ servants or officers of God, co-operating with each other in that great work, which, when it is completed, must be attributed not to them, who are the instruments, but to God, who is the author and accomplisher of all. Dr. Hammond. God is always represented in Scripture as the Master of the “husbandry” or vineyard, or of the “building,” under which images His church is described. All preachers or ministers of the Gospel are “fellow-labourers” employed by God therein. And this is agreeable to the design of the Apostle. Dr. Wells.

1 Corinthians 2:10

10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.] As not being discoverable by any man’s natural abilities. Dr. Wells.

11. — I have laid the foundation.] “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,” chap. ii. 2. Drs. Hammond and Whitby.

1 Corinthians 2:11

11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, &c.] For what man knoweth a man’s secret thoughts, but only himself, and his own soul or spirit? even so, the secret counsels and mysteries of God can none know, but the Spirit of God only. Bp. Hall. “No man,” properly, as in the original, ’no one,’ not only man, but other creature, as angel. Accordingly what the Apostle here asserts holds good of the angels and all created beings; of all beings but God Himself; whence it follows, that the Holy Spirit is undoubtedly God. Dr. Wells. From what the Apostle here asserts, it seems to be a plain consequence, 1st, that the Holy Spirit is omniscient, as “knowing all things, even the deep things of God;” 2dly, that the Holy Spirit is with God and in God, even as intimately as the soul is in the body. Dr. Whitby.

12. — which is Jesus Christ.] On whom alone the Church of God is originally founded and built. Bp. Hall.

1 Corinthians 2:12

12. Now we have received, &c.] We, the true Apostles; or rather, 1: for though he speaks in the plural number, to avoid ostentation, as it might be interpreted; yet he is here justifying himself, and showing the Corinthians, that none of them had reason to forsake and slight him, to follow and cry up a false apostle. That he is speaking of himself in plain from the next verse, compared with chap. i. 17; and ii. 1. Locke. — not the spirit of the world.] Which suggests worldly wisdom. Dr. Whitby.

— that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.] That we might, by his illumination and grace, know and apprehend the great, spiritual, and heavenly blessings of forgiveness and salvation, that are freely given to us of God. Bp. Hall.

12. — gold, silver, precious stones.] That is, sound doctrine: “wood, bay, stubble,” that is, unsound doctrine. Dr. Wells. The meaning is, that persons must not mix doctrines of their own invention with the Gospel of Christ; for when “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire,” 2 Thess. i. 7, 8, to judge the world, such notions will not stand the trial. Abp. Secker.

1 Corinthians 2:13

13. not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth.] Not with rhetorical eloquence, but in the words or manner of expression, which the Holy Ghost teaches, plain indeed, yet not without a peculiar and most affecting eloquence. Dr. Wells. From this and the preceding verse, as also from the following, it is evident, that the Apostles spake and writ by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, as did the Prophets of old time, and delivered, as from God, only those things, which God revealed to them by the Holy Spirit, according to the words of St. Peter, 1 Pet. i. 12. Dr. Whitby.

The pretended teachers of the Corinthians could

13. — for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire:] There is a day coming which shall clearly declare, what sort of doctrine it is, because it shall be made manifest by the fire of God’s judgment. Bp. Hall.

1 Corinthians 2:14

14, 15. — the natural man — he that is spiritual] Anno DOMINI 68. d 2 Pet. 1. 16. His unsearchableness. Milk is fit for children. Anno DOMINI 50.

14. If any man’s work abide] As gold abides the fire: that is, if at the day of judgment any man upon his trial shall be found to have preached sound doctrine. Dr. Wells.

1 Corinthians 2:15

15. If any man’s works shall be burned.] If his doctrine be frivolous, like straw, or stubble, or wood, apt to be burnt up, and so to be wasted in that fiery examination. Bp. Hall. That is, if he be found to have preached unsound doctrine, provided it be erroneous only in matters of inferior consequence, and not subversive of the foundation of Christianity. Dr. Wells.

— he shall suffer loss:] He shall lose his labour in teaching it, so that his works in the ministry shall be of no advantage to him. Bp. Hall, Dr. Wells.

— but he himself shall be saved:] Because he holds and maintains the foundation. Bp. Hall. Upon timely repentance, or by not having actually denied Christ, notwithstanding he has built upon that foundation some erroneous doctrines, he shall be more mercifully dealt with by Christ, and freed from having his portion with unbelievers. Dr. Hammond.

— yet so as by fire.] That is, not without great hazard and difficulty: as St. Chrysostom expresses it, like one that, when his house is set on fire at midnight, wakes, and leaps out of the bed, and runs naked out of